Srinagar, Oct 10: Notwithstanding government’s assurance to ensure cheap and adequate transport for fruit export from the Valley, the “record increase” in freight is giving sleepless nights to the growers.
 The growers and fruit exporters believed the freight had increased due to shortage of trucks which according to them showed government’s inability to deliver.
 “Right now,” the growers said, “freight has gone all times high at Rs 80/box from here to Delhi.”
 “The industry has already suffered losses worth around Rs 400 crore due to tumultuous situations prevailing in the Valley. And, now this increase in the freight could further dent the entire fruit industry,” growers said.
 “Government has failed to provide transport to us, for which it is actually dependent on Haryana and Punjab. We are told that the drivers from these states are scared to come here,” said Fayaz Ahmed Malik, president of Sopur Fruit Association.
 “What is more worrying is that the state government’s tax sops to attract truckers from outside in large numbers in the prevailing situation have seemingly failed to yield results,” he said.
  “The government is portraying a rosy picture about fruit industry, but situation is very grim as growers are incurring huge losses,” a group of growers told Greater Kashmir.
 “The meetings held by state government over past few weeks to ensure hassle-free transport have borne no fruit,” they said.
 The growers said in September, Minister for Transport Qamar Ali Akhoon had directed IGP Traffic and IGP Kashmir to ensure safe passage of fruit laden trucks during curfew and restrictions.
 Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had also directed senior officials of Horticulture and Transport Departments to facilitate export of fruit, they said.
 During ongoing assembly session state government also informed the House about steps being taken for overcoming the problem. “The state government also came up with funny suggestions like utilizing railways for transporting fruit to outside Valley knowing well that there is no direct rail link between Srinagar and Jammu,” the growers said.
 When contacted minister of state for Horticulture Javaid Ahmed Dar said government had taken several steps to ensure trans-shipment of fruit.
 “Earlier there were problems, but situation has considerably improved after meetings in which important decisions like free entry to trucks, were taken,” he said.

Lastupdate on : Sun, 10 Oct 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sun, 10 Oct 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Mon, 11 Oct 2010 00:00:00 IST